Sen. Tim Scott became the second former campaign rival to join Donald Trump on stage in New Hampshire this week, sparking a fresh wave of speculation that the former president is auditioning his potential vice presidents.
The South Carolina senator got a hero’s reception in front of hundreds of Trump supporters in Concord as he delivered his endorsement.
‘We need a president who sees Americans as one American family. We need …’ said Scott, letting the audience roar, ‘Donald Trump.
‘And that’s why I came to the very warm state of New Hampshire to endorse the next president of the United States President Donald Trump.’
Sen Tim Scott appeared on stage with Donald Trump on Friday evening in Concord, New Hampshire, to endorse the former president is the race for the Republican nomination
Trump spoke warmly about Scott even before he dropped out the 2024 race, sparking frequent speculation that the South Carolina senator may be his VP pick
His appearance was teased with a cheeky video filmed in front of the former president’s private jet, adding to the heady sense of anticipation at Concord’s Grappone Convention Center.
It is a familiar move for a property mogul who took his fame to stratospheric heights with ‘The Apprentice.’ He has frequently used the campaign stage to audition potential vice presidents or senior officials, gauging audience reaction along the way.
Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley also courted Scott’s endorsement, but Trump’s capture of the senator comes as his top advisers hope they can kill off his two rivals and now turn his fire solely on President Joe Biden.
New Hampshire holds its first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Haley in particular may struggle to continue her campaign if she finishes a distant second to the former president.
‘This could end it. A big vote could end it,’ said Trump as he encouraged his fans to turn out on Tuesday. ‘Then we could focus on Biden and his thugs.’
On Tuesday Trump took the stage with biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a day after he dropped out of the race. That led to headlines that the 38-year-old could be a potential VP.
And on Friday Trump was introduced by New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, another rising star who is talked about as a future running mate.
Then came Scott, who worked closely with Trump when he was in the White House. The audience loved the big reveal, teased by the former president earlier in the speech.
‘I don’t know … ‘ said Trump wistfully at one point. ‘I’d love to get him up here tonight, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get him.’
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is a rising star in the party and on Friday evening she introduced Trump at his rally at the Concord, New Hampshire, convention center
Trump called on his supporters to deliver a big result in Tuesday’s primary. ‘This could end it. A big vote could end it,’ he said. ‘Then we could focus on Biden and his thugs’
The arrival of Scott brought the house down. Trump had earlier wistfully raised the idea. ‘I’d love to get him up here tonight, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get him,’ he said of Scott
People lined up from noon for a speech that didn’t start until after 8:30pm, braving bitterly cold New Hampshire temperatures for a chance to see Trump up close
Stefanik spoke to journalists before the rally, and shrugged off the VP speculation
Sharon Rusanski, 46, six hours in temperatures that dipped to 18F by the time doors opened. She said the sense of theater was what made Trump so special.
‘I think that’s what makes him entertaining, she said. ‘But I also think that politics politics doesn’t always have to be so serious. It can be fun.’
She added that Scott would make a great vice president.
‘I don’t know if Vivek is ready,” she said. ‘Maybe press secretary?
‘Elise would be great too, because she’s a woman and it’s always great to get that other perspective.’
The audience loved Stefanik’s introduction. Her public profile rose at the end of last year when she grilled the presidents of two elite university’s on their policies against promoting genocide.
‘Two down, one to go,’ she said to whoops as she referenced how two of the tongue-tied presidents had resigned after their humiliation under her questioning.
But Scott was the big prize for Trump, and another statement of intent as he tries to wrap up the nomination in rapid style.
Earlier a source set out Scott’s thinking.
‘The clincher was he’s been talking to Trump for some time and they’ve got a very good relationship,’ said a source familiar with their discussions.
‘We have to get focused on beating Joe Biden.’
It is a bitter blow for Haley, whose political base is also South Carolina and who as governor appointed Scott to the Senate in 2012.
She needs a huge boost if she is to pull off an upset in New Hampshire‘s first-in-the nation primary on Tuesday.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks in front of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally during the 2020 campaign
Both Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis courted Scott for his endorsement. They are struggling to slow the Trump juggernaut and Haley in particularly needs a strong result on Monday
A spokesperson for her campaign played down the twist.
‘Interesting that Trump’s lining up with all the Washington insiders when he claimed he wanted to drain the swamp,’ Olivia Perez-Cubas told the Associated Press.
‘But the fellas are gonna do what the fellas are gonna do.’
It is understood that she and DeSantis, who is largely skipping the north-east state’s first-in-the-nation primary, both spoke with Scott to try to win his endorsement.
The senator has a powerful fundraising machine, and could help the former inroad make further inroads among Biden’s Black support.
Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, ran on a message of optimism and unity. That made him stand out in a field that painted a dark picture of America under Biden.
His personal story of growing up poor gave him the sort of broad appeal that marked him out as a contender.
But he never really gained traction in the polls despite a huge financial war chest, and struggled to impose himself on the first three Republican debates.
On Tuesday, Trump was joined on stage by tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out less than 24 hours earlier after a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa.
‘It’s an honor to have his endorsement,’ said Trump. ‘He’s going to be working with us and he’ll be working with us for a long time.’
Those comments intensified speculation that the 38-year-old could join the Trump ticket.